Sound material cycle society and Circular economy in Japan

( Chika Aoki-suzuki ) 한국폐기물자원순환학회(구 한국폐기물학회) 2021 한국폐기물자원순환학회 심포지움 Vol.2021 No.1

DEVELOPMENT OF AN AR APPLICATION TO SUPPORT A MUSEUM LOAN-KIT

Chika Izumoto,Daewoong Kim,Tatsuro Ishii 한국디자인학회 2015 한국디자인학회 학술발표대회 논문집 Vol.2015 No.10

In recent years, museum activities has been promoted in elementary and junior high schools. The number of programs using museums has been increasing. However, there are some schools that cannot access museums because of distance, time and expenses. For these schools, there are loan-kits, which museums loan to schools for free. These contain genuine museum material that helps children to learn by touching hands-on pieces such as replicas of museum objects. In this study, we propose a loan-kit that children are capable to understand and have fun with in schools away from the museum.

Image Registration Method from LDCT Image Using FFD Algorithm

Chika Tanaka,Tohru Kamiya,Takatoshi Aoki 제어로봇시스템학회 2020 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2020 No.10

In recent years, the number of lung cancer deaths has been increasing. In Japan, CT (Computed Tomography) equipment is used for its visual screening. However, there is a problem that seeing huge number of images taken by CT is a burden on the doctor. To overcome this problem, the CAD (Computer Aided Diagnosis) system is introduced on medical fields. In CT screening, LDCT (Low Dose Computed Tomography) screening is desirable considering radiation exposure. However, the image quality which is caused the lower the dose is another problem on the screening. A CAD system that enables accurate diagnosis even at low doses is needed. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a registration method for generating temporal subtraction images that can be applied to low-quality chest LDCT images. Our approach consists of two major components. Firstly, global matching based on the center of gravity is performed on the preprocessed images, and the region of interest (ROI) is set. Secondly, local matching by free-form deformation (FFD) based on B-Spline is performed on the ROI as final registration. In this paper, we apply our proposed method to LDCT images of 6 cases, and reduce 57.29% in the calculation time, 26.1% in the half value width, and 29.6% in the sum of histogram of temporal subtraction images comparing with the conventional method.

Space Available for the Cervical Spinal Cord of Asymptomatic Adult Nigerians

Chika Anele Ndubuisi,Wilfred C. Mezue,Samuel C. Ohaegbulam 대한척추신경외과학회 2017 Neurospine Vol.14 No.3

Objective: The space available for the spinal cord (SAC) is a measure of spinal cord functional reserve and may vary in different societies. The objective of this study is to measure normal SAC at each subaxial cervical disc level of asymptomatic adult Nigerians and to compare obtained values with published studies worldwide. Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study using magnetic resonance imaging facility at Memfys Hospital Enugu, from 2012 to 2013. Disc level measurement of midsagittal spinal canal and cord of randomly selected 102 consenting asymptomatic adults, 21 to 50 years. Literature search of related studies worldwide was used to compare with the current study. Analysis was done using inferential and descriptive statistics. Results: Average SAC values were 4.9±1.4 mm (C3/4), 4.5±1.2 mm (C4/5), 4.6±1.4 mm (C5/6), and 4.9±1.2mm (C6/7). In 21-30 years group, SAC was 5.4±0.6 mm(C3/4), 4.9±0.6 mm(C4/5), 4.9±0.6 mm(C5/6), and 5.1±0.5 mm(C6/7). In 31-40 years group, SAC was 5.4±0.5 mm(C3/4), 4.6±0.5 mm (C4/5), 4.9±0.6 mm (C5/6), and 5.3±0.6 mm (C6/7); but among 41-50 years group, SAC was 3.8±0.6 mm (C3/4), 3.9±0.6 mm (C4/5), 3.6±0.6 mm (C5/6), and 4.3±0.6 mm (C6/7). In females SAC was 4.9±1.3mm(C3/4), 4.5±1.2mm(C4/5), 4.6±1.2mm(C5/6), and 4.8±1.1 mm (C6/7). In males, SAC was 4.9±1.4 mm(C3/4), 4.6±1.2 mm(C4/5), 4.5±1.5 mm(C5/6), and 5.1±1.3 mm(C6/7). From analysis of variance, impact of age on SAC was 0.118 (p=0.001) while gender had 0.078 (p=0.223). SAC at each level has positive correlation of 0.6 to 0.7 with adjacent levels (p<0.0001). Comparing this result with studies worldwide, our population has lower SAC values than others. Conclusion: C4/5 and C5/6 are narrowest subaxial cervical spine levels and probably explain preponderance of C4/5 and C5/6 cord injury. There may be higher incidence of congenital canal stenosis predisposing to worse outcome following cervical spine injury or degenerative diseases in this study population. This is different from European series but similar to Japanese.

Instrumental Culturalism: The Work of Comparisons across Japan, ‘the West’ and Myanmar

Chika Watanabe 서강대학교 동아연구소 2018 TRaNS(Trans –Regional and –National Studies of Sou Vol.6 No.1

As ‘emerging donors’ push alternative paradigms of development cooperation ‘beyond aid’ onto the global agenda, some scholars discuss those from Asia as presenting culturally specific approaches. These observations echo the claims that aid practitioners and policy makers themselves make about, for example, Japanese forms ofdevelopment. In this article, I caution against scholars repeating these culturally essentialising arguments that promote certain political interests. Instead, I propose that we ‘take seriously’ these aid actors’ instrumental culturalist views as ethnographic artefacts—that is, as logics and practices that our interlocutors use. By taking what I call instrumental culturalism as the object of study, rather than the analytical frame, this article shows that the work ofcomparisons plays a central role in producing culturalist worldviews. In short, culturalism is performative, creating that which it names. Ifwe are to understand the “beyond aid” agenda, we need to attend to the ways that the production of culturalisms through the work of comparisons informs development actors’ understandings of social organisation and global interaction.

The study on change of mechanical properties of NBR due to deterioration

Chika Umino,Yusuke Arao,Yuma Otsuka,Fumiko Kawashima,Kazuhito Fujiwara 대한기계학회 2017 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.31 No.8

Rubber is an important industrial material. However, mechanical properties and deformation of the high polymer including rubber are not clear. A method of estimating the mechanical properties which can be used for the deteriorated rubber is demanded to improve the reliability of it. Improved VBO (Viscoplasticity theory based on overstress) model is a constitutive equation. We applied it for the compression stress-strain behavior of deteriorated NBR (acryloNitrile-Butadiene rubber). Furthermore, we proposed a method of estimating the mechanical properties of deteriorated NBR. In this paper, deterioration tests in water and in air were conducted. To confirm the validity of the proposed improved VBO model and estimated mechanical properties, simulations of the stress-strain curves obtained in the tests were conducted.

Recurrence risk factors in stage IA grade 1 endometrial cancer

Chika Nwachukwu,Mana Baskovic,Rie Von Eyben,Dylann Fujimoto,Stephanie Giaretta,Diana English,Elizabeth Kidd 대한부인종양학회 2021 Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Vol.32 No.2

Objectives: Patients with early-stage endometrial cancers (EC) with disease recurrences haveworse survival outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify clinical and pathologicfactors that predict for all recurrences in stage IA grade 1 (IAG1) EC. Methods: Records from patients diagnosed with EC were retrospectively reviewed. Baselinecharacteristics of 222 patients with IAG1 EC who underwent surgical resection were analyzed. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to identify univariate and multivariate risk factorsthat predict for recurrence. Results: Seventeen (7.65%) patients had recurrences. The 3-year cumulative incidence ofrecurrence were significantly higher for patients with time from biopsy to surgery ≥6 months(54% vs. 8%, p=0.003), simple hysterectomy with ovarian preservation vs. total hysterectomyand bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (31% vs. 9%, p=0.032), any myometrial invasionvs. no invasion (18% vs. 2%, p=0.004), and tumor size ≥2 cm (15% vs. 2%, p=0.021). On,multivariate analysis, any myometrial invasion, increasing time from biopsy to surgery, andlarger tumor size were independent predictors of any recurrence. Patients with recurrenceshad worse outcomes than those without (5-year overall survival [OS]=60%; 95% confidenceinterval [CI]=16%–86% vs. 5-year OS=95%; 95% CI=87%–99%, respectively, p=0.003). Conclusion: Time from biopsy to surgery, larger tumors, and myometrial invasion are themost important predictors of recurrence. Though the recurrence rates are generally low inIAG1 EC, the survival rate for the patients with recurrences was worse than those without. Identification of additional recurrence risk factors can help select patients who may benefitfrom adjuvant treatment.

GENDER PERSPECTIVES IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH POLICIES

Chika Hyodo 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 2000 이화여자대학교 아시아여성학센터 학술대회자료집 Vol.2000 No.10

Assessment of brain natriuretic peptide and copeptin as correlates of blood pressure in chronic hypertensive pregnant women

Chika J. Okwor,Kayode S. Adedapo,Oluwasomidoyin O. Bello,Ijeoma A. Meka,Chukwuemeka V. Okwor,Chukwuemelie Z. Uche,Chiebonam E. Nwajiobi,Uloaku A. Nto-Ezimah,Chisom E. Uchechukwu,Ekene J. Arum 대한고혈압학회 2022 Clinical Hypertension Vol.28 No.-

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy including preexisting (or chronic) hypertension are the most common complication encountered during pregnancy that contribute significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and copeptin have been investigated as biomarkers in various hypertensive disorders, but studies of their clinical value in chronic hypertensive pregnant women are sparce. This study aimed to assess the levels of BNP and copeptin in chronic hypertensive pregnant women and investigate their correlation with blood pressure (BP) in chronic hypertensive pregnant women in South Western Nigeria. One hundred and sixty consenting pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy, grouped into those with chronic hypertension ( n = 80) and normotensive ( n = 80), were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Age and clinical characteristics were obtained, and blood was aseptically drawn for BNP and copeptin measurement using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS ver. 20.0. Data was analyzed using Student t-test, chi-square, and Pearson correlation test as appropriate. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. The mean systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were significantly higher in pregnant women with chronic hypertension (158.30 ± 3.51 and 105.08 ± 2.47 mmHg, respectively) compared with normotensive pregnant women (100.72 ± 3.02 and 70.29 ± 1.96 mmHg, respectively). The mean levels of BNP and copeptin were higher in pregnant women with chronic hypertension (57.26 ± 3.65 pg/mL and 12.44 ± 1.02 pmol/L, respectively) compared with normotensive pregnant women (49.85 ± 2.44 pg/mL and 10.25 ± 1.50 pmol/L, respectively) though not statistically significant. Correlations observed between SBP and DBP with levels of BNP ( r = 0.204, P = 0.200; r = 0.142, P = 0.478) and copeptin ( r = − 0.058, P = 0.288; r = 0.045, P = 0.907) were not statistically significant. There was no association between BP and the levels of BNP and copeptin in pregnant women with chronic hypertension who were already on antihypertensive treatment, with the implication that antihypertensive treatment may modulate BNP and copeptin release despite significantly elevated BP levels.

Changes in the Communication Skills of Nursing Students During Practical Clinical Training

Chika Sato,Junko Fuse 한국간호과학회 2011 한국간호과학회 학술대회 Vol.2011 No.10